License Plate Theft

Thieves are increasingly targeting license plates rather than the car itself or its contents, so that they can use them in a number of criminal activities, including:

• selling a stolen vehicle as a legitimate one (ringing)
• concealing the true identity of vehicles used in ram-raiding or thefts from gas stations
• disguising stolen vehicles
• avoiding traffic related fines such as speeding and parking tickets (cloning)
• avoiding the cost of having to buy their own plate

To prevent plate theft, it's a good idea to purchase a License Plate Security screw kit from an auto parts store. These are special screws that cannot be unscrewed due to the way the they are manufactured; a special tool must be bought separately to remove the screws.

In addition, as proof of insurance is required in order to apply for current registration, license tabs are often targeted and resold. It is therefore important to check your license plate every so often to make sure that your current year license tab is attached, and be aware of people loitering near the rear of vehicles.

It's a good idea to remove the previous year's tab before adding the current year to prevent a build up of past year tabs. When attaching the current year's sticker, use a sharp razor blade to slice an X or diagonal lines through the tab, so if a thief tries to remove it, it will not come away in one piece. A sturdy metal frame bolted to the license plate will also discourage thieves from cutting the corner off your license plate to steal the year sticker.